Supreme Court adopts digital hearings across multiple cities

The Supreme Court (SC) said on Wednesday it has successfully integrated cutting-edge technology into its judicial processes, redefining how justice is delivered across the country.

The move is a decisive step toward a more transparent, accessible, and citizen-centric justice system, according to a court handout.

Harnessing digital innovation, the SC operationalised seamless multi-location hearings — bringing together benches, counsel and litigants from across Pakistan without geographical constraints.

In a recent landmark hearing, the bench convened at the Principal Seat in Islamabad, while counsels joined simultaneously from Quetta, Hyderabad and Karachi, ensuring smooth proceedings and equal participation.

Demonstrating institutional agility, the SC swiftly adapted to an emergent change in bench composition earlier this week.

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi presided over the proceedings from Islamabad, while Justice Ayesha A. Malik joined the bench from Lahore, ensuring seamless continuity without compromising on judicial efficiency.

Further reinforcing this transformation, today’s entire docket was heard with the bench sitting in Islamabad, while counsel and parties appeared from Quetta, showcasing a fully functional, technology-enabled judicial ecosystem.

These proceedings are particularly significant as they mark a decisive shift away from the conventional reliance on physical paper books.

Instead, fully digitised case files were used during the hearings, eliminating the need to retrieve records from branch registries and substantially enhancing efficiency, speed, and transparency.

The SC’s reform initiatives reflect both scale and substance: case files have been digitised to ensure secure and efficient record management; cases barcoded for precise tracking and transparency; digital case-filing introduced to reduce procedural delays and enhance accessibility; electronic transmission of court orders enabling swift delivery of decisions; digital payment systems operationalised to simplify processes for litigants; video-link hearings institutionalised to bridge distances and reduce costs; and an e-office system introduced as an integral component of the broader digitisation ecosystem.

These reforms mark a paradigm shift from conventional courtroom practices to a dynamic, technology-driven model that prioritises accessibility, efficiency, and transparency.

By eliminating logistical constraints and enabling real-time participation from multiple locations, the SC is making justice more inclusive and responsive to the needs of citizens, the announcement said.